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Monday, November 26, 2018

Walnut Ridge Feud among the State’s Longest

Arkansas has a long history of violent feuds and duels,
going back even to its Territorial days, but a feud in Walnut Ridge is among
the state’s longest running.

Late in the afternoon of March 4, 1905, Walnut Ridge City
Marshal Lee Ridgeway attempted to arrest 23-year-old farmer Edward Bagley for
public intoxication. Bagley had caused trouble in a local store. Bagley
resisted arrest and fought with Ridgeway, who shot Bagley three times. Bagley
died, and Ridgeway surrendered to Deputy Sheriff Lou Graff.

But, the Bagley family was known to be vengeful and violent.
Concerned over a backlash, Walnut Ridge officials requested a Little Rock officer
come to the city. A Lawrence County grand jury then indicted Ridgeway, who was
released with a $2,000 bond.

West Front Street with Pitzele Store and Trolley, Walnut Ridge

A Jury found Ridgeway killed Bagley in self-defense and delivered
a not guilty verdict. Ridgeway then decided to leave Walnut Ridge because
he feared the Bagley family would seek revenge. He waited three years before
returning to the city. Ridgeway thought that amount of time was enough for the Bagley
family to cool off, but he was wrong. On Oct. 26, 1908, Ridgeway was shot and
killed by Edward Bagley’s brother, Alf.

A jury acquitted Alf Bagley for Ridgeway’s murder after he
said he was just carrying out a blood feud. During the trial, a local doctor,
John C. “Jack” Hughes, testified against Alf Bagley, which began a new feud for
the Bagleys. For the next two years, Hughes and Alf Bagley tried to kill each
other. At one point, Hughes shot off one of Bagley’s fingers. Hughes finally
shot and killed Bagley in the middle of a street on Oct. 22, 1910. Two hours
later, Bagley’s father, Isham, was also shot and killed.

Hughes was arrested for both murders. He admitted to killing
Alf Bagley in self-defense but denied shooting Isham Bagley. Law enforcement officials
decided against charges for Hughes and released him. For the next few years,
the Bagley family continued to seek revenge against Hughes.

Then, in 1912, Hughes’ friend Wolford Benningfield shot and
killed John Bagley, Isham’s second son, in retaliation for an attempt on
Hughes’ life. Authorities charged Benningfield with second degree murder, and
he became the first and only person convicted over the feud. Benningfield was
sentenced to 20 years at the State Penitentiary, but the feud continued.

In September 1914, L.A. Bland shot
Benningfield’s cousin, Solon Crook, in retaliation for Benningfield’s killing
of John Bagley. In an effort to finally stop the feud, Hughes was indicted for
the murders of Alf and Isham Bagley, but the judge declared a mistrial. Hughes
was tried again in 1915 but was acquitted due to a lack of evidence. The next year, Gov. George Hays pardoned Benningfield,
and the feud finally ended.